A museum exhibiting kites from Japan, Asia, and some European countries. The museum occupies the 5th floor of TAIMEIKEN, a well-known restaurant, located in downtown Tokyo. Shingo Modegi, the former owner of the restaurant below, was a kite enthusiast, founding the Japan Kite Association in 1969 and the museum in 1977. Although small the museum’s collection comprises of 3,000 of kites (300 are on display at any one time).
Kite manufacturing and flying has a considerable history in Japan and it was a popular pastime during the Edo period, during which a huge variety of traditional kites made from bamboo and Japanese handmade paper called “washi” were created.
